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V T. NORDENFELT. 1 Sheets Sheet 1.

GUN MOUNTING.

No. 360,537. Patented Apr. 5, 1887.

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(NoModelf) 4 SheetsSheet"2. T. NORDENPELT.

GUN MOUNTING N0. 360,537. Patented Apr. 5, 1887.

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T. NORDBNFELT.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. T. NORDENFELT. GUN MOUNTING. No. 360,537.Patented Apr. 5, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOESTEN NORDENFELT, OF WVESTMINSTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THENORDENFELT GUNS AND AMMUNITION COMPANY, (LIMITED,) OF SAME PLACE.

GUN-MOUNTING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 360,537, dated April 5,1887.

Application filed September 14, 1886. Serial No. 213,512.

. there is employed a trunnioned frame, by the movements of which thegun may be elevated and depressed, instead of being rocked on its owntrunnions.

My improvements apply, especially, to guns which are carried upon aforked support with a stem which drops into a socket at the top of asuitable standard. At the upper ends of the fork are bearings whichreceive trunnions formed upon a frame, into which the gun is dropped,and in which it is so held that it can move longitudinally in recoil andin returning to the firing position. The gun itself also has trunnionsor equivalentsupporting projections at its sides, and these are receivedinto bearing-blocks, which can slide along guides upon the trunnionedframe. The trunnioned frame carries a pair of hydrauliccontrolling-cylinders, one on either side of the gun. In these cylindersare pistons. Rods extend back from these pistons and are fixed to theblocks, into which the gun-trunnions are received. Behind the blocks arecoiled springs with abutments upon the trunnioned frame, and they tendconstantly to press the'gun forward as far as the guides in the framewill allow the blocks to go. \Vhen the gun is tired, the recoil isresisted by the pistons. in the control ling-cylinders and proceeds onlyas the liquid in the cylinders is able to find passage from one side ofthe piston to the other. After recoil the springs send the gun forwardagain into position to be again fired.

Iprovide for the passage of the liquid in the hydrauliccontrol-cylinders from one side of the piston to the other in well-knownway, as by boring the cylinder taper, and in sucha way as to allowbetween the piston and the side of the cylinder a suitable amount of wa-(No model.)

ter-way in every part of the stroke; or, as a well-known equivalent forthe purpose, I bore the cylinder truly and fix longitudinal ribs withinit. The piston in this case is notched to allow it to pass freely alongthe ribs, and

the ribs are so fashioned as to leave a suitable amount of water-way inevery part of the stroke. IVhen the gun is fired, by the time that ithas gathered any considerable velocity in recoil there is a sufficientlyclear passage from one side of the piston to the othenwhich is graduallyreduced until the gun comes to rest. While the gun is running out, also,its motion is in like manner controlled, and the gun comes to the firingposition without shock. These arrangements are applicable to othermountings in which hydrnalic compressors are employed to control themovements of.

guns.

In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readilycarried into effect, I will proceed to describe the drawings hereuntoannexed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gun carriage ormounting constructed according to my invention. The gun is shown inplace upon it. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear elevationof the carriage without the gun. Fig. 4 is a plan, partly in section, ofthe trunuioned frame. Fig. 5 isa vertical section on the line I I inFig. 4. Fig. (i is a rear elevation, partly in section, of thetrunnioned frame. Fig. 7 shows separately one of the strips fixed withinthe hydraulic cylinders.

A is a socket or pedestal carrying the forked standard or support B,which is able to rotate about a vertical axis.

B are hearings on this support, which receive the trunnions Oon thetrunnion-frame O.

1) is the gun. The gun is provided with small projections or trunnions DD, and these fit into recesses in blocks L L.

L L are pieces which fill the recesses in theblocks L L over thetrunnions of the gun. The blocks L L are received into chambers formedone on either side in the trnnnioned frame 0. There is an opening in thetop of the chamber, and by this the block L and filling-piece L isinserted, and by it also the trunnions of the gun pass when the gun isdropped into its place. When all is in position, the covers (3 arebolted onto the top of the trunnioned frame, and the blocks L L are thenconfined in their places in the trunnioned frame, so that they (and alsothe gun) can only move longitudinally within this frame.

C C are the main hydraulic, cylinders. They form part of the trunnionedframe and are in frontof its trunnions, as well asin front of the sideprojections or trunnions of the gun, lying parallel to the gun, one oneither side of it. In each cylinder there is a piston, M, having a rod,M, passing out from the cylinder by a cupped leather at M The outer endof the rod M is attached to the block L.

N is a screw, by which the gland at M is turned to tighten it upon thecupped leather, or to unscrew it when the cupped leather has to berenewed.

O 0 are coiled springs abutting upon the trunnioned frame at U G andupon the hinder part of the blocks L L. The springs tend to bring theparts into the position in which they are represented in the drawings,with the pistons M M abutting against the covers which close thehydraulic cylinders C at their fore ends. On each side the two coiledsprings, forming a pair, abut upon a piston-like guide, C", which isable to slide in a recess formed for it in the trunnioned frame 0. l

P P are the regulating-strips,-fixed within the cylinders O (3. Theyproject, as will be seen, into the notches M in the pistons M. As therecoil proceeds they gradually fill these notches and leave less spacefor the passage of liquid from one side of the piston to the other. Thusthe strips P regulate the speed with which the gun moves, both in recoiland return; and by altering the dimensions of the strips this speed canbe adjusted as desired. Similarly, when the gun is returned to thefiring position by the operation of the springs O,a projection, M", onthe piston enters a cavity, nearly fitting it, in the cylinder-cover. Inthis projection are passages m, which are progressively closed as theprojection on the piston enters the cavity. The forward movement of thepiston and of the gun is checked by the resistance offered to the escapeof liquid from the cavity in the cylinder-cover.

G G are small hydraulic cylinders in connection with the cylinders 0They contain rams, which, when the recoil takes place, press uponstationary concentric surfaces 13 around the trunnion of the trunnionedframe and resist any change in the elevation of the gun, as will readilybe understood.

Q is a pressure-screw, which can be tightened by hand against aconcentric surface,B

The gun here shown is not provided with mechanical gear for elevating ortraining it; but this is effected by means of a crutch-lever, R, againstwhich the shoulder of the gunner is pressed.

S is a shield to protect the gunners. attached to the trunnion-frame 0.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is 1. The combination, substantially as set forth, of thetrunnioned frame, its support, the gun movable longitudinally in thetrunnioned frame, two hydraulic cylinders upon the trunnioned frame, oneon either side of the gun and in front of the trunnions of the frame,pistons in these cylinders with piston-rodsconnected with the gun, andsprings upon the trunnioned frame on either side of the gun and behindthe trunnions of the frame, for the purpose set forth.

2. A gun-carriage comprising a trunnioned frame, within which the gun issupported and moves longitudinally, and the hydraulic cylinder orcylinders formed or fixed upon the trunnioned frame and containingpistons or equivalent parts having connection with the gun, and whichduring the recoil of the gun drive liquid through a passage or passages,which, as the recoil proceeds, are progressively contracted,substantially as set forth.

3. The. combination, substantially as set forth, of the trunnionedframe, its support, the gun provided with trunnions or supportingprojections and movable longitudinally in the trunnioned frame, twohydraulic cylinders upon the trunioned frame, one on either side of thegun and in front of its trunnions, pistons in these cylinders, withpiston-rods having connection with the gun, and springs upon thetrunnioned frame 011 either side of the gun and behind its trunnions,for the purpose described.

It is THORSTEN NORDENFELT.

Witnesses:

W. R. LUNN, T. J. NoRRrs.

